TOKYO, March 27 Kyodo A lawyers' ...

TOKYO, March 27 Kyodo

A lawyers' cluster in Japan said Thursday a propos amendment to the refugee recognition law is making near improvements to the law nevertheless called for the removal of the of recent origin condition requiring direct avenue to Japan for asylum inquirers to obtain permission to stay during the refugee application process

The bill to amend the Immigration curb and Refugee Recognition Law, approved by way of the cabinet on March 4 aims to scrap a 60-day limit for refugee applications after arrival in Japan and allow the justice minister to issue temporary-stay permits to asylum inquirers applying for refugee status if they convenient certain conditions.

The pair main criteria are applying for refugee status within six month of arrival and having enrolled Japan directly from regions with threats of persecution.

The temporary-stay permits, in a less degree than the proposed legislation, would stop Japan's practice of proceeding with the deportation proces level when the refugee application proces is in a less degree than way because asylum inquirers are currently not guaranteed any status during the application procedure

While viewing positively the 60-day-limit removal and the fresh permit system, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations urg removal of the direct-entry requirement, giving the example that refugee from Afghanistan and North Korea cannot arrive without going end a third country because there are publicly no direct flights from those countries to Japan.

The lawyers also described as an improvement the bill's clear indication of letting those recognized as refugee acquire resident status. The instant immigration law does not stipulate any relation between refugee status and resident qualification.

However, the cluster noted that resident status would be denied and refugee may face deportation subject to the bill if the listed conditions for temporary-stay permits are not met

The cluster proposed that the bill clearly state the granting of resident status to all refugee including those who do not fitting such listed conditions.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Kyodo of recent origins International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group